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ACI-NA Joins With GAMA, ALPA, And 32 Other Groups (But Not
AOPA)

In a coalition letter
to the US Senate this week, 35 aviation organizations called for
members to pass a comprehensive, long-term Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill this year and urged the
Senate to make the legislation a priority.

"It is critical for Congress to recognize how important aviation
is to our economy and to complete the FAA reauthorization process,"
said Greg Principato, president of the Airports Council
International - North America. "We need to ensure that our aviation
system is able to grow in a safe, secure and efficient
manner.”

The coalition letter was delivered to the full Senate Wednesday
afternoon.

Thirty-five organizations signed the letter, including the
National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Conference of State
Legislatures, American Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, American Association of Airport
Executives, National Business Aviation Association, Air Line Pilots
Association, Airport Consultants Council, Aerospace Industries
Association, Air Carrier Association of America, National
Association of State Aviation Officials, National Air Traffic
Controllers Association, National Air Transport Association,
General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and the Cargo Airline
Association.

While individual goals are diverse, the organizations are
unified in recognizing the importance of advancing a multiyear FAA
reauthorization legislation. The coalition letter notes that the
integrity of our aviation systems and the ability to meet future
demands are dependent upon the federal government's success in
meeting its obligations to provide adequate infrastructure. The
first step in meeting those obligations is for the Senate to
advance a comprehensive and long-term FAA reauthorization bill,
according to the coalition.

Conspicuous in its absence from the signatory list, however, was
the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association... which tells ANN the
organization opted to "avoid any confusion about our position in
supporting the Finance Committee bill, S. 2345 and the House passed
legislation HR 2881 that use aviation taxes, not user fees to help
pay for ATC modernization and AIP," according to AOPA President
Phil Boyer.

"AOPA is a strong supporter of modernizing the air traffic
control system and providing robust funding for airports though the
Airport Improvement Program and we understand and have supported
the need to boost this funding, including increasing the fuel taxes
on general aviation users to help pay for ATC modernization," Boyer
added. "The Association's position has been consistent during the
debate on how to finance these improvements; AOPA believes they
should be financed by a combination of aviation taxes from the
users and general taxpayers through the general fund. We are
opposed to the implementation of user fees for any segment of
aviation, regardless of the amount of the fee, it is a foundational
policy that AOPA opposes."